key: cord-0685415-ekz3yl3j
authors: Wiles, Fran
title: Book Review: Social work and COVID-19: lessons for education and practice by Denise Turner
date: 2022-03-08
journal: J Soc Work (Lond)
DOI: 10.1177/14680173221087037
sha: ad4af96c99db1d4a89c35de8d759e1a72954de9a
doc_id: 685415
cord_uid: ekz3yl3j

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mentor and supporter. Chapter 8, in similar vein, makes an interesting argument for social workers to engage with poetry as a means of accessing and processing difficult emotions; as a source of support and inspiration; and as an aid to reflective practice.

Having experienced the pandemic, the need to process difficult emotions is likely to resonate with readers. Banks et al.'s 2020 research revealed that during the pandemic social workers were experiencing feelings of 'helplessness, anger, grief, guilt, anxiety, fear, shame, sadness and disappointment'. In response, Chapter 10 offers a convincing argument that professional supervision is more vital than ever during the pandemic (and arguably as we begin to emerge). Also thought-provoking is Chapter 9's call for social workers to revisit their understanding of grief theories, so that they can help themselves and others to adapt to this period of change. The author (2021, p. 84) suggests that emerging from the pandemic will be challenging: 'this normal is not the normal that we once knew, but a new normal where children have learned to keep their distance from others [and] … thousands of families face life without the presence of a loved one'.

Each chapter ends with reflective questions, which could also be used for group discussion. Given the book's broad reach, a useful addition might have been some 'further study' suggestions to help readers follow up specific topics that had interested them. Overall, though, this book will be enjoyed by a wide range of readers: acting as a springboard for valuable reflection on how the pandemic has affected our lives and our work, and for thinking about how weindividually and with othersmove on from this point.

Ethical Challenges for Social Workers During COVID-19: A Global Perspective. The International Federation of Social Workers